Power control for aeronautical machines and the like



A. J. GREENLY. POWER CONTROL FOR AERONAUTICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

I APPLICATION FLLED JULY 22| 1919. .1,339,33 Patentfd May 4, 1920,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.v

ARTHUR JOHN GREENLY, F LONDON, ENGLAND.

POWER CONTROL FOR AERON AU Application led `July 22 Power Controls for Aeronautical Machines and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power controls for motor-driven machines. The invention is particularly applicable to aeronautical machines and to other machines or apparatus comprising parts, such .as steering-devices and change-speed gearing, hereinafter referred to as functioning members, adapted to be controlled by a lever which can be tilted about either and 'both of two axes at right angles to one another. For example, the vanes of aeroplanes, such as are operated by the control-lever, could be controlled by a power control according to this invention, as also could the rudders of a submarine having one pair of rudders for' steering horizontally and another pair for steering vertically.

A primary object of this invention is to provide improved control apparatus whereby the functioning members of motor-driven machines can be operated at will either Iby power alone, or by power used as an aid to manual operation, or solely by manual operation by moving one control-lever.

Another object is to combine with a control-lever or column which can be operated manually for actuating the functioning members, a second control-lever which shall control motive power used foractuating the same functioning members.

A further object is to provide that the second control-lever can move through a limited angle in all directions relatively to the control-column on which it is mounted, and thereby operate a slide-valvel which is mounted on the control column and controls motive power for operating the functioning members.,l

A still further object is to enable the angle through which the one lever can be tilted relatively to the other to be adjusted.

Another object is to enable the two control-levers to be locked in alinement one with l the other.

A further object is to provide means to Specification of Letters Patent.

TIGAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE.v

4 Patented May 4, 1920.

. 1919. serial No. 312.533.

vary the feel of the one lever movable on the other. l

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of .parts described hereinafter and pointed out inthe claims.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by oway of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a vvertical elevation, partly in section, showing one form of the power control according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a bottom planview of the control-lever shown in Fig. l after the valvechest' cover and the supply-pipe connected thereto have been removed from the bottom of the lever, 4

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 3 -in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4l is a like section taken on the line 4--4 in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the valveports and fluid-operated devices connected thereto v controlled by .the control-lever shown in Fig. 1.

Like reference characters designate like parts in all the views.

Referring first to Figs. l to 4, a socketv A pierced at its end and having a square base A1 is mounted by means of two hollow trunnions B, arranged at opposite sides of the base, to rock in one vertical plane, for example fore and aft, in a support rC which in turn is-mounted to rock by means of pivots D in a vertical plane at right-angles to the former plane. A control-column or lever E h'aving one end secured in the socket A is thus universally mounted and can be rocked in any direction. In the other. end of this lever E is secured a ball F of a 4ball-andsocket joint, the socket G1 of which is formed on the one end of a control-lever H. Secured in the other end of'this lever H is a rod H1, H2, the part H,1 being tubular and 'tcrs thereof, located at-right-angles to one another, each of these ports being in com` munication` with either one of the hollow ftrunnions B or withj one of the` tubular branches M which( are mounted on opposite sides of the base A in a vertical plane at right-angles to that containing the trunnions B.

As 4diagrammati'cally shown in Fig. 5, the

- trunnions B and the branches M are connected' by way of pipes B1 and M1, respectively, each to one of 'a pair ofc linders N and O, respectively, each provide with a piston N1 and O1, respectively. The two pistons N1 are each connected by a band, rod or other .member N2 to a functioning member of the machine to be controlled, for example to the steering vanes of the aeroplane', and the twovpistns O1 are likewise connected by bands, rods or other members 0 2 to other functioning members of the machine to be controlled, `for example to the vanes for elevating and depressing the aeroplane. Each of these cylinders andV its piston thus constitutes a powerdriven relay device for actuating `the vanes operatively connected thereto, and is itself controlled by the slide-valve J which controls the supply of fluid under pressure to the portsA2 and so tothe cylinders N and 0.

When it is desired to operate one or more of the vanes under control, the doubleended control-lever is tilted in the desired direction, the knob H11 at the lower end .f--moves the slide-valve. J over the port-face *of the ,base A1 out ofits central or neutral position and thereby puts one or more of the ports A2 wholl or partially into comniumcation with t e branch pipe K1 for,

supplying the fluid under pressure to the operating devices N7 N1, and O, O1. In thisv manner the vanes of the aeroplane can be controlled solely by power simpl by actuating the above described dou le-ended control-lever.

As shown in Fig.

l1 the upper endof the tion.

`universally mounted column or lever E,

osition this aeroplane under control.

limited angle in relation tothe second control-lever upon which it is mounted. When the ring P isscrewed intov its upper extreme position it locks the lever H to the column E, so that if the double-ended control-lever is now operated manually the slide-valve J does not move over the port' face of the base A1, but the second controllever is rocked in the desired direction and the ei'ort applied to it is transmitted by the ring Q on the `column .E and the ties Q1 attached thereto directly to the vanes of the It will therefore be seen that whenthe double-ended controllever is locked to the second control-lever the vanes will be controlled solely by manL ual operation by moving one composite control-lever, whereas when the ring P is in a lower position permitting limited relative movement between the lever H and the column E, the vanes under control will be operatedV at first by power alone and then, when the double-ended control-lever can be rocked no further without` simultaneously rocking the second control-lever, by ower used as an aid to manual operation. wing to'the provision of this locking deviceP the power control can be rendered 'completely inoperative atany time if desired.

In order to vary the feel, i. e. the resistanceoi'ered to movement of the doubleended control-lever, an adjustable yielding internally screw-threaded hollow screwsT;"

each of these screws contains a spring S, so that one end of each plunger is pressed against a rod H2.

plungers R has a flange R1 which cannot pass a shoulder T1 formed inthe screws T whereby the movement of the'spring-pressed plungers in the direction of the rod H2 is limited. Each screw T is screwed into the srluared portion H4 formed on the' he other end of each of these collar Q and the wall of the column E; a

lock-nut T2 secures each screw T in posi- A threaded plug S1- 1s screwed into each hollow screw T and compresses the spring S therein, whereby the plungers R are? Ynormaly pressed against one slde of the square 4 be seen that when the double-ended controlleveris rocked in relation to the second con'- trol-lever one or more of the plungers R will be'moved against its spring S, and the farther the Idouble-ended control-lever is rocked relatively to the second control-lever, the greater will be the resistance to motion offered -by the springs S. Owing to the plugs-R2 being screw-threaded-the pressure ofthe springs S on the plungers R can be readily adjusted. When the double-ended on the rod H2. It will thus the second control-lever this regulating-de-` vice tends to return the rod H2 and the slide- Valve J into their central or neutral position.

As shown in Figs. l and 3, in order that the rod H1, H2 and the slide-valve J can be centered or set inrelation to the ports A2,.

screws U constituting a setting-device are provided. Each of these screws is screwed at one end into the socket G1' and projects through a hole F1 in the' ball E'and abuts against the rod H1. As these screws are located in pairs in two dierent vertical planes at right-angles to one another, the rod H1, H2 and, consequently, the slide-valve J can be adjusted into any desired position.

-It will be appreciated that the doubleended control-lever provided by this invention does not involve any movements by the pilot othervthan those usually performed in y manually controlling the vanes of an aeroplane in the ordinary manner.

lt is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the above described power-control without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the Iend of the double-- ended control -lever usually operated by hand may be adapted to be operated by the pilots foot.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination, with a support, of a double-ended control-lever mounted thereon so that it can rock about either and both A two axes at right-angles to one another adapted to be operated manually at one end,

a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, and a slidevalve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position.

2. The combination,'with 'a control-lever arranged for connection to functioning members of a machine to be controlled, of a double-ended control-lever mounted thereon so that it canv rock through a limited angle in relation thereto about either and both of two axes at right-angles to one another and adapted to beoperated manually at one end,

va port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, and a slidevalve operatively connected to the Aother end of the double-ended control-lever and arranged to Vmove upon the said port-face in site-ends of two diameters, a slide-valve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the saidport-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position, and adjustable yielding means interposed between thel control lever and its support.

4. The combination, with a universallymounted control-column arranged for connection to the fiinitioning members of a machine to be controlled, of va double-ended control-lever mounted thereon so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right-angles to one another and adapted to be operated manually at one end, a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, a slide-valve operatively connected to .the other end of the control lever and arranged to move upon the said portf lever and the said control-column.

5. The combination, with a control-column arranged for connection to functioning members of a machine to be controlledof a double-ended control-lever which 'comprises a tubular portion universally mounted on 4the control-column to rock through a limited angle in relation thereto and a central tube that is located co-axially with said tubular portion and has one end attached thereto, a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of twodiameters, and a slide-valve operatively connected to the other eii`d of the control-lever and arranged to lmove upon the said port-face in alldirections to and from a central neutra-l, position.

. 6. The combination, with a support, of a double-ended control-lever mounted thereon so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right-angles to one another and adapted to be operated manually at one end,

a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, a slide-valve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all ldirections to and from a central-neutral position, and setting means arranged to act laterally on the said control-lever for adj vlisting it relatively to its support.

v7. The combination, with a control-column arranged for connection to functioning members ofa machine to be controlled, of a double-ended control-lever which comprises a tubular portion universall mount- -ed on the control-column to rock t rough a limited angle in relation thereto and a central tube that is situated co-axially with the said tubular portion and has one end attached thereto, a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, a slide-valve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to m'ove upon the said port-face in all dlrectlons to and from a central neutral position, and setting means arranged to act aterally onthe said central tube for adjusting it relatively to the control column.

8. The combination, With a control-column arranged for connection to functioning members of a machine to be controlled, of a double-ended control-lever socketed thereon and arranged to be operated manually at one end, locking `means arranged to lock the control-luier in alinement with the control-column, a port-face having ports 1ocated at the opposite ends of two diameters, and a'slide-valve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position. I

9. The combination, with a support, of a mounted thereon and adapted to be operated manually atvone end, an adjusting device arranged to adjust the degree to which the control lever can be tilted in relation to its support, a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters, and

' a slide-valve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position. 10. rThe combination, with a universally mounted control-column arranged for connection to functioning members of a machine to be controlled, of a double-ended control-lever socketed thereon and arranged to be operated manually at one end, an adjusting device arrangedl to adjust the degree lto which the double-ended control-lever is tiltable in relation to the control-column, a port-facehaving' ports located at the op osite ends of two diameters, .and a slide-vallve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position.

11. The combination of a control-column Which has one end constituting a ball and is arranged for connection to functioning double-ended control-lever universally.

members of a machine 'to' b controlled, a double-ended control-lever Which has a socket engaging said ball and is arranged to be manually rocked thereon by one end,

'a' fluid-pressure operated relay, the combination, with` a double-ended control-lever universally mounted on the machine and adapted to be operated manually at one end, ofL a port-face having ports located at the opposite end of two diameters and connectedeach to one of thesaid relays, and a slidevalve operatively connected to the other end of the control-lever and arranged to move upon the said port-face in all directions to and. from a. central neutral position.

13. In apparatus for the control of powerdriven machines in which a plurality of functioning members are controlled`\each by a fluid-pressure operated relay, the combination with a universally-mounted controlcolumn arranged for connection to the said functioning" members, of. a double-ended control-lever universally mounted on the said control-column and arranged to be operated manually at one end, a port-face having ports located at the opposite ends of two diameters and each connected to one of said relays, and a slide-Valve operatively connected to the other end of the controllever and arranged to move uponthe said port-face in all directions to and from a central neutral position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR J OHN GREENLY. 

